Faridpur highways blocked again as tensions over constituency delimitation mount

This has led to long tailbacks of goods-laden trucks and passenger buses stranded at the four entry points

Agitated residents in Faridpur have once again blocked two highways to protest the redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries in Bhanga Upazila.

The Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barishal highways were blocked from 9am on Wednesday, leaving long tailbacks of goods-laden trucks and passenger buses stranded at the four entry points.

The Election Commission (EC) published the final gazette on Sept 4 outlining the revised parliamentary constituencies.

Under the changes, Algi and Hamirdi Unions of Bhanga Upazila were moved from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2, which covers Saltha and Nagarkanda.

Since then, angered residents and local political leaders in Bhanga have staged repeated demonstrations rejecting the move.

On at least two earlier occasions, protesters shut down the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway, a key gateway to southern Bangladesh, along with other highways.

They demanded the reversal of the new seat boundaries.

From Tuesday morning until evening, demonstrators set up barricades at nine locations on the Bhanga roundabout, the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barishal highways.

Tires were burned, trees and electricity poles uprooted, and bamboo fences placed across the roads.

The blockade severed road links between Dhaka and 21 southwestern districts, causing severe disruptions and hardship for travellers.